Gregoire: Tolls may be needed to pay for Viaduct

By CHRIS MCGANN, P-I REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Sunday, September 24, 2006

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire plans to "step up" and provide the additional $460 million needed for the state's share of replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, but she'll do it with tolls paid by drivers in Seattle.

As the estimated cost of replacing the earthquake damaged double-decker bridge along the waterfront keeps going up, Gregoire said Monday it makes sense to use tolls to cover the increase.

"Tolls are for mega projects predominately, when you can't otherwise afford them," she said Monday. "User pay is the basic philosophy 5 Rather than saying we're going to use a gas tax and everybody in the state has to pay for a mega project."

Gregoire also said she opposes another gas tax increase for the viaduct project.

Seattle leaders decided last week they wanted to replace the earthquake damaged double-decker bridge along the waterfront with either six-lane tunnel, and now it's up Gregoire and the state Legislature to decide its preference.

Other possible options are a straight rebuild or a surface-level boulevard.

Last week the state raised the cost estimate for the tunnel, saying it could be between $3.5 billion and $5.5 billion - most likely $4.6 billion. The new figures reflect changing factors such as higher materials costs. The comparable estimate for a new elevated viaduct ranged from $2.2 billion to $3.3 billion, with the most likely cost estimated at $2.8 billion.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is a strong tunnel backer, but key Seattle legislators - including Speaker of the House Frank Chopp - back the elevated rebuild.

Gregoire will make the final decision and said Monday she'd announce her choice sometime before the Legislature convenes in January. She did indicate that a street level option is likely out.